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| Mitch McConnell criticizes Trump's Syria withdrawal in rare show of defiance – as it happened | Mitch McConnell criticizes Trump's Syria withdrawal in rare show of defiance – as it happened |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Live political reporting continues on Tuesday’s blog: | |
| Trump impeachment inquiry supported by 58% of Americans, poll finds – live | |
| Good afternoon, pals. A few things that happened on my watch this afternoon: | Good afternoon, pals. A few things that happened on my watch this afternoon: |
| The Minnesota senator and presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar has reportedly raised $4.8m in the third quarter of her 2020 presidential bid. The fundraising round puts Klobuchar in the middle of the Democratic fundraising for the third straight quarter, reports the Associated Press. | The Minnesota senator and presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar has reportedly raised $4.8m in the third quarter of her 2020 presidential bid. The fundraising round puts Klobuchar in the middle of the Democratic fundraising for the third straight quarter, reports the Associated Press. |
| The senator has raised more than some rivals but less than top-tier candidates such as Bernie Sanders, who raised $25.3m last quarter, and Elizabeth Warren, who raised $24.6m. | The senator has raised more than some rivals but less than top-tier candidates such as Bernie Sanders, who raised $25.3m last quarter, and Elizabeth Warren, who raised $24.6m. |
| There’s no end in sight in the contract talks between the United Auto Workers union and General Motors – a dispute that has sent at least 49,000 workers to the picket lines. | There’s no end in sight in the contract talks between the United Auto Workers union and General Motors – a dispute that has sent at least 49,000 workers to the picket lines. |
| This week, workers rejected a company offer and extended the strike, reported the Associated Press. | This week, workers rejected a company offer and extended the strike, reported the Associated Press. |
| And Warren sounded off against Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, partly for what she said was the CEO’s lack of action in the face of election interference by the Russians. | And Warren sounded off against Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, partly for what she said was the CEO’s lack of action in the face of election interference by the Russians. |
| US Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren leveled a broadside against Facebook and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday, partly for what she said was the CEO’s lack of action in the face of election interference by the Russians. | US Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren leveled a broadside against Facebook and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday, partly for what she said was the CEO’s lack of action in the face of election interference by the Russians. |
| Facebook already helped elect Donald Trump once because they were asleep at the wheel while Russia attacked our democracy—allowing fake, foreign accounts to run ad campaigns to influence our elections. | Facebook already helped elect Donald Trump once because they were asleep at the wheel while Russia attacked our democracy—allowing fake, foreign accounts to run ad campaigns to influence our elections. |
| In fact, this time they’re going further by taking deliberate steps to help one candidate intentionally mislead the American people, while painting the candidacy of others (specifically: mine) as an "existential” threat. This is a serious concern for our democratic process. | In fact, this time they’re going further by taking deliberate steps to help one candidate intentionally mislead the American people, while painting the candidacy of others (specifically: mine) as an "existential” threat. This is a serious concern for our democratic process. |
| We need accountability. That should start with Congress and the appropriate state authorities opening investigations and conducting hearings to make Facebook executives explain the company’s policies and practices—under oath. | We need accountability. That should start with Congress and the appropriate state authorities opening investigations and conducting hearings to make Facebook executives explain the company’s policies and practices—under oath. |
| Tension between Zuckerberg and Warren publically crested in recent weeks after a source leaked two hours of audio in which the Facebook CEO rallied staffers against competitors, critics, and Elizabeth Warren. | Tension between Zuckerberg and Warren publically crested in recent weeks after a source leaked two hours of audio in which the Facebook CEO rallied staffers against competitors, critics, and Elizabeth Warren. |
| The fight continues for auto workers striking for job security | The fight continues for auto workers striking for job security |
| There will be no swift end to the ongoing contract talks between the United Auto Workers union and General Motors in a dispute that has sent at least 49,0000 workers to the picket lines. This week, workers rejected a company offer, extending the strike for longer than three worrks, reports the Associated Press. | There will be no swift end to the ongoing contract talks between the United Auto Workers union and General Motors in a dispute that has sent at least 49,0000 workers to the picket lines. This week, workers rejected a company offer, extending the strike for longer than three worrks, reports the Associated Press. |
| Contract talks aimed at ending a 22-day strike by the UAW against General Motors continued on Monday after United Auto Workers union bargainers rejected a company offer on Sunday. | Contract talks aimed at ending a 22-day strike by the UAW against General Motors continued on Monday after United Auto Workers union bargainers rejected a company offer on Sunday. |
| The United Auto Workers vice-president Terry Dittes expressed skepticism that a quick settlement could be found in a dispute that has crippled General Motor’s factories. | The United Auto Workers vice-president Terry Dittes expressed skepticism that a quick settlement could be found in a dispute that has crippled General Motor’s factories. |
| Dittes’ said GM responded Sunday morning by agreeing to the terms of a previous offer and and made few changes. | Dittes’ said GM responded Sunday morning by agreeing to the terms of a previous offer and and made few changes. |
| Amy Klobuchar has been able to raise $4.8 mn in the third quarter of her 2020 presidential bid. | Amy Klobuchar has been able to raise $4.8 mn in the third quarter of her 2020 presidential bid. |
| The fundraising puts the Minnesota senator in the middle of the Democratic fundraising for the third straight quarter, reports the Associated Press. | The fundraising puts the Minnesota senator in the middle of the Democratic fundraising for the third straight quarter, reports the Associated Press. |
| More from the Associated Press: | More from the Associated Press: |
| Klobuchar has raised more than some rivals but less than top-tier candidates such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, who raised $25.3 million last quarter, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who raised $24.6 million. | Klobuchar has raised more than some rivals but less than top-tier candidates such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, who raised $25.3 million last quarter, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who raised $24.6 million. |
| Klobuchar said during a stop in New Hampshire on Sunday that she’s been careful about how the campaign spends money and “we have money in the bank.” The campaign, which announced its total ahead of the Oct. 15 filing deadline, did not disclose how much cash it has on hand. | Klobuchar said during a stop in New Hampshire on Sunday that she’s been careful about how the campaign spends money and “we have money in the bank.” The campaign, which announced its total ahead of the Oct. 15 filing deadline, did not disclose how much cash it has on hand. |
| “We feel good about our number,” Klobuchar said. “I’m staying in this race till the end.” | “We feel good about our number,” Klobuchar said. “I’m staying in this race till the end.” |
| Klobuchar started airing her first TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire last week — the first of which feature her closing remarks from last month’s Democratic presidential debate, in which she described herself as someone who tells the truth and doesn’t make promises she can’t keep. | Klobuchar started airing her first TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire last week — the first of which feature her closing remarks from last month’s Democratic presidential debate, in which she described herself as someone who tells the truth and doesn’t make promises she can’t keep. |
| “I don’t want to be president for half of America. I want to be president for all of America,” she says. | “I don’t want to be president for half of America. I want to be president for all of America,” she says. |
| Klobuchar raised $5.2 million in the first quarter and nearly $4 million in the second quarter. | Klobuchar raised $5.2 million in the first quarter and nearly $4 million in the second quarter. |
| Hi, I’m Mario Koran taking over for Amanda Holpuch here on the west coast. Here’s what’s happened so far today... | Hi, I’m Mario Koran taking over for Amanda Holpuch here on the west coast. Here’s what’s happened so far today... |
| US senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, joined the wave of Republicans and Democrats criticizing Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria, allowing Turkey to take control of the military operations there. | US senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, joined the wave of Republicans and Democrats criticizing Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria, allowing Turkey to take control of the military operations there. |
| South Carolina senator, Lindsey Graham, led the charge through the morning, appearing on Fox News and tweeting about how he opposed the decision. | South Carolina senator, Lindsey Graham, led the charge through the morning, appearing on Fox News and tweeting about how he opposed the decision. |
| The Trump campaign held a call with reporters about the 2020 election, where they explained a rule change to Republican state party structures that will effectively make it so Trump doesn’t face other Republican challenges at the nominating convention. They emphasized this was “not done from a position of weakness.” | The Trump campaign held a call with reporters about the 2020 election, where they explained a rule change to Republican state party structures that will effectively make it so Trump doesn’t face other Republican challenges at the nominating convention. They emphasized this was “not done from a position of weakness.” |
| A week after having a heart attack, Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, took a walk with his wife, Jane, near their home in Vermont. | A week after having a heart attack, Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, took a walk with his wife, Jane, near their home in Vermont. |
| US authorities have taken security measures to protect a US intelligence official who filed a whistleblower complaint which spark the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump, according to Reuters: | US authorities have taken security measures to protect a US intelligence official who filed a whistleblower complaint which spark the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump, according to Reuters: |
| An anonymous source told Reuters that lawyers for the whistleblower expressed concern in a Sept 28 letter to the acting director of National Intelligence, Joseph Maguire, that their client’s safety could be at risk after Trump suggested he was a spy who had committed treason. | An anonymous source told Reuters that lawyers for the whistleblower expressed concern in a Sept 28 letter to the acting director of National Intelligence, Joseph Maguire, that their client’s safety could be at risk after Trump suggested he was a spy who had committed treason. |
| They said certain individuals had offered a $50,000 “bounty” for any information on the whistleblower’s identity after the official complained to a government watchdog. | They said certain individuals had offered a $50,000 “bounty” for any information on the whistleblower’s identity after the official complained to a government watchdog. |
| And the Washington Post has details on the lengths Democrats are going to to protect the whistleblower: | And the Washington Post has details on the lengths Democrats are going to to protect the whistleblower: |
| House Democrats eager to protect a whistleblower who raised alarms over President Trump pressuring a foreign leader to investigate a political rival are considering testimony at a remote location and possibly obscuring the individual’s appearance and voice — extraordinary moves to prevent Trump’s congressional allies from revealing the identity, according to three officials familiar with the discussions. | House Democrats eager to protect a whistleblower who raised alarms over President Trump pressuring a foreign leader to investigate a political rival are considering testimony at a remote location and possibly obscuring the individual’s appearance and voice — extraordinary moves to prevent Trump’s congressional allies from revealing the identity, according to three officials familiar with the discussions. |
| Democratic investigators are concerned that without such rare precautions, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee could learn and then leak the identity of the whistleblower, who has agreed to answer questions before the intelligence committees in both the House and Senate. | Democratic investigators are concerned that without such rare precautions, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee could learn and then leak the identity of the whistleblower, who has agreed to answer questions before the intelligence committees in both the House and Senate. |
| Brendan Gleeson will play Donald Trump opposite Jeff Daniels as James Comey in a TV adaptation of the former FBI director’s memoir A Higher Loyalty. | Brendan Gleeson will play Donald Trump opposite Jeff Daniels as James Comey in a TV adaptation of the former FBI director’s memoir A Higher Loyalty. |
| CBS bought the rights to Comey’s book after a bidding war last year. Deadline reported on Monday that filming on the miniseries will begin in November, after Daniels finishes a year-long Broadway run in Aaron Sorkin’s hit adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel. An air date is yet to be determined. | CBS bought the rights to Comey’s book after a bidding war last year. Deadline reported on Monday that filming on the miniseries will begin in November, after Daniels finishes a year-long Broadway run in Aaron Sorkin’s hit adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel. An air date is yet to be determined. |
| The TV version of Comey’s hit Trump book is not alone. The Emmy-winning director Jay Roach, for example, is attached to the screen version of Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff. | The TV version of Comey’s hit Trump book is not alone. The Emmy-winning director Jay Roach, for example, is attached to the screen version of Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff. |
| Jeff Daniels to play Comey on TV – and Brendan Gleeson to play Trump | Jeff Daniels to play Comey on TV – and Brendan Gleeson to play Trump |
| For the first time on record, the 400 wealthiest Americans last year paid a lower total tax rate — spanning federal, state and local taxes — than any other income group, according to newly released data analyzed by the New York Times. | For the first time on record, the 400 wealthiest Americans last year paid a lower total tax rate — spanning federal, state and local taxes — than any other income group, according to newly released data analyzed by the New York Times. |
| That’s a sharp change from the 1950s and 1960s, when the wealthy paid vastly higher tax rates than the middle class or poor. | That’s a sharp change from the 1950s and 1960s, when the wealthy paid vastly higher tax rates than the middle class or poor. |
| Since then, taxes that hit the wealthiest the hardest — like the estate tax and corporate tax — have plummeted, while tax avoidance has become more common. | Since then, taxes that hit the wealthiest the hardest — like the estate tax and corporate tax — have plummeted, while tax avoidance has become more common. |
| President Trump’s 2017 tax cut, which was largely a handout to the rich, plays a role, too. It helped push the tax rate on the 400 wealthiest households below the rates for almost everyone else. | President Trump’s 2017 tax cut, which was largely a handout to the rich, plays a role, too. It helped push the tax rate on the 400 wealthiest households below the rates for almost everyone else. |
| The secretary of defense for public affairs, Jonathan Hoffman, said in a statement it does not support a Turkish operation in northern Syria. | The secretary of defense for public affairs, Jonathan Hoffman, said in a statement it does not support a Turkish operation in northern Syria. |
| Despite the president giving a green light for that to occur, the defense department’s statement claims that their position is in tune with the presidents. | Despite the president giving a green light for that to occur, the defense department’s statement claims that their position is in tune with the presidents. |
| The Department of Defense made clear to Turkey - as did the President - that we do not endorse a Turkish operation in Northern Syria. The US Armed Forces will not support, or be involved in any such operation. | The Department of Defense made clear to Turkey - as did the President - that we do not endorse a Turkish operation in Northern Syria. The US Armed Forces will not support, or be involved in any such operation. |
| In conversations between the Department and the Turkish military we have consistently stressed that coordination and cooperation were the best path toward security in the area. Secretary Esper and Chairman Milley reiterated to their respective Turkish counterparts that unilateral action creates risks for Turkey. As the President has stated, Turkey would be responsible, along with European nations and others, for thousands of ISIS fighters who had been captured and defeated in the campaign lead by the United States. | In conversations between the Department and the Turkish military we have consistently stressed that coordination and cooperation were the best path toward security in the area. Secretary Esper and Chairman Milley reiterated to their respective Turkish counterparts that unilateral action creates risks for Turkey. As the President has stated, Turkey would be responsible, along with European nations and others, for thousands of ISIS fighters who had been captured and defeated in the campaign lead by the United States. |